Indianapolis MotoGP: Rossi wins red flagged rain soaked race

Valentino Rossi has taken the win in the second race of the day to be red flagged because of the rain at Indianapolis MotoGP.

Rossi was in the lead with seven laps to go when race officials decided the wet conditions were getting too bad to race and put out the red flags.

Normally the remaining laps of the race would be run as a re-start to complete race distance but it is unlikely that the conditions will improve enough to warrant a seven lap dash for the finish so the result was called.

Nicky Hayden was the man to benefit most from the early stop. The American had lead the first half of the race but his tyres were giving him serious problems. Rossi passed him with 15 laps to go and he was quickly falling in to the clutches of Jorge Lorenzo when the flags were put out.

Casey Stoner led in to the first corner but was obviously struggling for pace and slipped back slowly to fifth place as conditions gradually got worse throughout the race. He just managed to pass Andrea Dovisioso for fourth before the race was abandoned.

Dovisioso put in an impressive ride and even led in the opening stages but ultimately had to settle for fifth.

Suzuki wild-card rider Ben Spies also put in a strong performance to take sixth place in the difficult conditions.

Brit James Toseland struggled to make any ground and slipped from eighth on the first lap down to 18th at the flag with just Marco Melandri behind him.